1001 Albums Summary

Pink Floyd at their very best

Never really listened to blues properly and this is a masterclass - what a voice.

Released in 1992 and an album I liked but didn’t love. The tracks are commentary on American racism, police brutality, corporate greed - all of which are unfortunately still as relevant today (if not more so) and the desire to rise up and reclaim power. My issue has always been that it ends up all sounding the same - by halfway through the album you’ve switched off to the lyrics as De la Rocha screams in your ear and the guitar and bass fight for dominance on the audio.

An album that sums up Paul McCartney - willing to throw anything at the wall and see what sticks. There’s highs and lows on this one - the opening 3 tracks are some of his best solo work, then it dips for a bit and picks up at the end.

I’ve never really liked the doors and this doesn’t change my mind. Not sure what makes this one of the 1001 albums I need to listen to but I have now done that and probably won’t listen to it ever again. A 2 pointer just to let me rate another of their albums lower.

A band I’ve heard of but not listened to. Pleasantly surprised - maybe just because this was a Monday morning album and I needed something upbeat but this hit all the right notes. A couple of tracks fell flat on the 2nd half for me but overall a decent album that will make me go back and listen to their other work.

One of the albums on the list I’ve listened to since I first heard “da Funk” with the iconic video of the dog man walking the streets of New York. Probably my personal 3rd favourite Daft Punk album (Alive 2007 and Discovery beat it to the punch) but even with that it’s still a 5 star for me. Just sad they’ve split up and I won’t get a chance to see them perform their magic live.

It’s a weird album that I never fully got into at the time as all that stuff was diametrically opposed to my rock sensibilities at the time - obv then I went to college and the drugs kicked in :) Still an album of highs and lows as it gets a bit lost in the “we have samplers” of the late 80’s house music scene but is certainly an album that defined a decade in how it managed to blend house, rock and gospel.

Country isn’t a genre I really enjoy and this album of covers is a mixed bag. There’s a couple of decent tunes but most of them just feel forced. Another one ticked off the list but I can’t say it’s made me a country fan or any more inclined to listen to KD Lang.

One of the best albums of all time. There isn’t a bad track on here - even Moby Dick which is just essentially a 4 minute drum solo is superb. Few albums can top this - apart from maybe Led Zep IV but it’s a close call.

An inoffensive album that absolutely sounds like the 60’s - couple of proper stinkers on there that break the feel of the album but in general it’s the kind of thing I’d expect to play in the background of a hotel lobby somewhere. I’m now off to watch Austin Powers.

What can I say - it’s inoffensive American radio rock - AOR I think they used to call it. Is it bad - no - is it in any way exceptional - no.

Soulful, funky upbeat 70’s.

Sea shanties, reggae, indie rock, ska all blended together to become less than the sum of its parts. Dreaming of you is a standout song in a sea of try hard blandness - I can only think when they drew the list up and needed to include 2002 there was very little from that year to choose from.

Part of the reason I started this journey was to hear music that wouldn’t normally have appeared on my radar. Really enjoyed this one.

I wondered what I was getting with a solo Brian Eno album but this a surprising classic that seems to have eluded me until now.

Can you separate art and the artist. Not when they get even a penny of my streaming money. This may be the greatest album of all time (it’s not) but I’ll skip it as Kanye is a piece of shit.

I’m obviously getting old as this sounds like much of the current line of female pop, I couldn’t tell the difference between a Lorde song and a hundred other chart songs. Forgettable.

One of the best albums from REM who had a run of classics from 87 -92.

Not a big country fan but quite enjoyed this.

I can appreciate this without actually enjoying it.

Another one I know songs from but never listened to - can hear the influence this had directly on bands like Nirvana. One that I’ll now have on my rotation of albums I think.

Had never heard of this band and after listening to the album I know why. Generic 80’s sounds abound and it occasionally reminds you of music by a better artist. Not sure why I needed to listen to this one before I die - unless it was to show me there were better albums in this year. If you want a better Aussie music from 1987 go listen to INXS - Kick which is criminally missing from the list.

It’s always interesting when you get handed something that’s well outside your usual musical sphere however the album feels overly long - probably because by the end of the second track it becomes very similar sounding (to my ears at least). Glad to have listened to it but it’s not for me.

It’s alright - mid 90’s R&B but ultimately forgettable background music.

An album I’ve heard but never really listened to if that makes sense. I didn’t get into the white stripes - probably because I was going through my “it’s popular so can’t be good” phase. Well I’m proven wrong as this album is an absolute joy from beginning to end. Starting with the best bassline ever and just keeping the momentum going for the entire album. Ball and biscuit being an absolute highlight.

Absolute tosh.

There’s a fine line between genius and madman - Zappa strides it confidently. Probably his most accessible album but even then it tests your patience at times when it descends into the band having a drawn out jam session.

I’ve listened to the B-52’s several times and outside of a couple of tracks just haven’t got on with them. This still hasn’t changed.

I think I’m not angry enough these days to appreciate this but can hear the influence it had on a lot of stuff I did listen to.

An album/artist I haven’t listened to in 20+ years. She had an amazing voice but the overall album is a mixed bag.

Elevator music for old people in vegas.

A 2 track jazz fusion jam session - oh god what will I need to endure!! First listen I was a bit bemused at what I was listening to. Second listen I found some moments that I quite enjoyed. Third listen I realised it needed to be approached like an aphex twin ambient album - let yourself just be taken where the band leads you. I’m not a jazz convert yet but it’s not the painful experience I’d anticipated. A decent 3 that may one day become a 4 if I go back to it in future times.

I only knew the singles and they are still the best things from this. Surprised to find they have more than one album - even more surprising to find there’s 3 on the list as I honestly thought they were at most a one album wonder. Shows how much of an impact they had one me in the 80s.

Starts pretty normally and descends into absolute madness. Musically excellent when it tries and as mad as a box of frogs at others. I can’t say I enjoyed about half of the album but it’s certainly an experience.

Still an album that I struggle to like - just kinda meandering around and never sounding like something cohesive. Influential but not for me.

This has made me enjoy jazz’

So outside of the 1st track I’d never heard this - no idea why it’s all kinds of awesome. Eclectic, funny and just on the right side of glam rock to keep me listening. I always knew that lots of bands mention sparks as an influence and now I know why.

I always took Dylan as folky guitar, mouth organ and mumbled “singing”. This however shows he was at one point capable of making every syllable crystal clear. This allows you to hear the one thing he did better than anyone - lyrics. There’s a reason his songs get covered by so many artists. Did it convert me to a fan - probably not but I have a better appreciation of the man.

I’m just too old and not from London so grime just annoys me.

One of the defining albums of the 80’s - when I think back to visiting London the number of Frankie says shirts, the videos, the controversy but thankfully the music is also superb. Pleasuredome, Relax, Two Tribes and power of love are still as good now as they ever were. There’s still too many covers padding out the run time (despite the quality of them) and that keeps it from a 5 but the big tacks absolutely justify a 4.

Is there anything that screams 70’s prog excess more than a prog rock adaptation of a classical piece inspired by an exhibition of a dead painters art. This may well be the absolute embodiment of why the genre became hugely uncool and died. It’s not that it’s bad it’s just getting so high on the smell of its own farts that you can almost taste it now. I bet the audience in Newcastle still have folk asking “who dropped one” when they walk into a room the stench is so great.

Feel wrong to have to rate this as it’s one of the most influential albums of all time, one of my most played and most loved. There’s a reason it’s so well regarded.

I enjoyed this but didn’t love it.

Late 80’s hiphop/ house has aged badly.

Everything awful about 80’s music in one album.

Mid 80’s chart pop - exactly the kind of stuff I hated back in the day.

Didn’t enjoy as much as the more Freeform long play stuff we’ve already had - still good though.

An absolute classic slice of British metal - I was always more of a maiden fan but you can see their influences are the same.

Had never heard of this band before - after listening I know why.

Christ I hated them in he 80’s - I haven’t changed my opinion - hold music for car insurance.

A French hip hop album - really!! That was my first thoughts when hitting play - however despite not understanding what’s being said the album has a really nice chilled flow. I considered looking up a translation but some things are best left alone.

Hadn’t heard this in years - still holds up well

A classic bit of prog

Listening to this just reminds me of getting wasted playing Tony hawks pro skater for hours at a mates house. Doesn’t quite stand the test of time but there’s a few tracks that are still great.

A classic and cornerstone of metal.

I just can’t get into Nick Cave - his voice grates and he seems like the most miserable man on the planet. This album especially - I had to split up the listen over an entire day to get through it without wanting to drink bleach.

Had never heard of this artist until today and I listened to all 3 of his albums. An absolute hidden gem to me and one I’ll be adding to my regular playlist.

I can appreciate talent but it’s not for me.

A classic but maybe not one that’s stood the test of time.

I’m all for experimenting in music but this tuneless mess of an album isn’t anything more than up his own arse Lydon furiously masturbating at how edgy he thinks he is. The only thing holding this together is the bass playing on every track which might be the only redeeming feature.

I never really thought of abba as an album band - big hit singles are their bread and butter. This kinda show that - the singles are top class 70’s pop but the rest are a mixed bag.

The album that got me into metal - I had everything Maiden recorded between this and Fear of the Dark and have listened to this one regularly for the last 40 years.

Is there such a thing as too proggy - this may be it.

An all time classic. Meat Loaf may have been the only person who could pull off this OTT mix of rock, opera and pure cheese.

I should like van halen - a talented front man, some amazing guitar work but it just feels like the single influence on 80’s hair metal and the US bands that made the genre a joke. Some decent songs but not enough for me to listen again.

An album I’ve not listened to since my first foray into metal in the 80’s. Wasn’t to my taste then but can see the influence it had on entire genre.

An interesting listen - hadn’t heard of them before and it’s definitely a massive influence on what would become punk in a few years.

A nice slice of 60s psychedelia

A belter of an album by an artist at the top of their game.

Some funky sounds on this but gets a bit samey.

This is one of those albums that mostly everyone in the late 90’s owned. A few classic tracks but relentlessly repetitive on the fillers.

Another dull album for 1970’s american radio - honestly can’t see what about this I needed to hear before I went to bed today - far less before I die. Worse of all there’s several more of this bland Americana on the list - I can only assume the author needed to tick a “music for people with no taste” option. The only redeeming feature is that De La Soul sampled “Peg” and made it into a much better song.

Quite enjoyed this - I’m now off to read pillars of the earth and drink mead.

The high water mark for Green Day and another album I’ve listened to constantly since its release.

I’m not quite sure if I’m ready for experimental jazz - I think I enjoyed it but it also filled me with dread. I also want to go watch some film noir now for some reason.

More music needs flutes

The cure at their lowest ebb manage to make some of their best music.

Pop perfection - there’s not a song on this that couldn’t be released as a chart single. You may not be a fan of Taylor Swift but you can’t deny that she’s a massive talent and stands head and shoulders above the multitude of copycat artists that have appeared since this album.

Never heard him before outside of tunes for Toy Story - that’s all I could think of while listening to this - however with the lyrical content it’s unlikely any of these are appearing in the next Pixar production!!!

Would have been a 2 but the late great Johnny Ace added a point.

Pretentious art school rock but I can’t help myself - this album is an absolute banger.

The byrds and their respective members were much more fun when taking LSD.

One of the best albums to come out of the grunge scene. Some of the tracks still hit hard (Jeremy, Black). It’s been on rotation in my collection for over 30 years now.

Me and this album have many memories, chilling with friends, post party early mornings, late night gatherings. Sheer ambient bliss. It’s not for everyone but for me it’s my go to album to find that zen place.

Can’t deny the man has a voice made for soul - unfortunately the entire album comes across as self indulgent and kinda uninteresting for large parts of each track.

Relaxing enough sounds but nothing if actively choose to listen to again.

The doors best album but still bogged down by Morrison’s bad poetry masquerading as lyrics. Overrated.

I’ve never been a fan of Springsteen but I absolutely get why he is huge. The album is mostly end to end hit after hit. Maybe you need to be from the states to connect with it.

I just can’t get into Bob Dylan - as a songwriter he’s one of the best ever but as a singer he sounds like a drunk in a pub karaoke.

A hard one to rate as it’s not an easy listen for someone coming into it blind. It’s a 3 because it’s not clicked for me - it may become a 4 in the future but I can’t amend votes.

This has aged like milk.

I was a fan of this in the 90’s and it still holds up well.

Got to give Madonna her due - she always knew how to jump on a trend. This is her late 90’s electro pop period and probably the last decent album she made.

I just can’t take to Janis Joplin - there’s some great musicianship on this album but every time she opens her mouth it ruins it.

The high water mark of britpop and Blurs best album.

Just the 60’s in musical form.

I just can’t listen to his voice.

I can’t help but love the big band excess paired with that set of pipes.

Dull Dull Dull

Interesting as a curio but wouldn’t listen again.

Fck Kanye

Better than the other album they had on the list but still manages to be dull as ditchwater.

One of the best albums of its type - a myriad of samples mixed to make a kaleidoscopic album that flows from track to track.

For an artist that had such a long career this is a return to form.

Another of those albums that loads of my friends loved and I just didn’t get - it’s alright and there goes the fear is a cracker of a song bit it never quite reaches the greatness of that tune. It’s a solid 2.5 out of 5 but I can’t give half points.

It may be the origin of heavy metal (stateside) but Sabbath did it better. An interesting piece of music history.

Pretty much peak Madge.

The album with most of the songs you know by Blondie - runs out of steam a bit in the last 1/3.

I like talking heads but this isn’t the best version of them.

Possibly the best album to come out of the whole Brit pop scene.

A bit more jazz than I maybe like my jazz

Hadn’t heard them before - quite liked it in a modern prog way

An amazing vocalist but the show tunes vibe isn’t really my thing.

Argh more boreplay.

Music for American blue collar workers, steeped in Americana. Unfortunately it’s all a bit too po faced. Give me Meat Loaf and a bit of cheese any day.

Blue Monday and True Faith are amazing songs - unfortunately neither of these are on this album. What we have here is New Order on the cusp of their team up with the England football team and well on the slide into mediocrity.

One amazing song and a bunch that aren’t as good.

Goes on a bit

is it something I’m glad to have heard - possibly. Is it something I’d willingly listen to again - no.

Ok but nothing earth shattering